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Bicycles
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Active Today 25
  • Such thing as a BIFL floor pump?

    Hey guys,

    So... I've been using a small electric pump for my bikes and e-scooters over the last few years.

    They are nice, but really aren't designed to be used as often as I do.

    I'm a fan of low-tech gear, so I'm looking for a good quality floor pump that will last the next 20+ years. Obviously, it needs to be serviceable and have easily replaceable parts. And it needs to be accurate, for sure. LOL

    I'm reading reviews from Wirecutter and various cycling sites, and they are all over the place with recommendations. I think a lot of their choices are driven by affiliate links, so there's that.

    Does this unicorn exist?

    12
  • I got stuck when looking at parts.

    I have a Triban RC100 that I wish to convert to 11 speed.

    I got as far as choosing the Sensah Srx Pro and the Shimano RS100 wheels. But got stuck after that.

    Which cassette would be compatible with both and what chain length would I need? I am looking for something that gives me some offroad climbing gears.

    Thank you for your help.

    3
  • Has anyone ever done an overnight cycle?

    I wanna try doing this some day

    (By overnight I mean set off in the evening (well rested) and cycle until the morning)

    10
  • Essential gear for night riding?

    I know about the obvious stuff like a bright vest, blinking rear light and wearing light colored clothes but is there anything else that I need for when nightfall hits?

    32
  • 10 things you should really know before getting an electric bike

    electrek.co 10 things you should really know before buying an electric bike

    Electric bikes are revolutionizing how we move, making commuting, fitness, and outdoor adventures more accessible and fun. They are useful...

    10 things you should really know before buying an electric bike
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  • Colnago Steelnovo 70th anniversary

    1
  • Friend got hit by a car over the weekend

    First, the good news: My friend is essentially okay, aside from some bumps and bruises. His bike took some damage, but likely not catastrophic: From what we could tell, both derailleurs on his bike and the bar tape were damaged; there may be other damage we couldn't identify immediately, such as the handlebars themselves.

    We were riding on this road with two lanes, no shoulder, and there's a light at the bottom of a hill, with a right turn lane. The light was green, so our group was cruising at a pretty high pace - probably 25 or 30 mph - in the right lane (not the turn lane, the through lane) and some driver needed to turn right, but couldn't wait a few seconds. So, they went into the LEFT lane, then turned right in front of our group, hit one of our riders, and kept going.

    ("Must get in front...oh I have to turn here..." Shitty driving habits in general, I'll bet.)

    A few other cars stopped, and someone called the police, who took a report and got an ambulance to check out the victim. Hopefully they'll do some investigation and find the guilty party. The cross street leads into a neighborhood with no other exits, so there's a good chance the perpetrator lives there. Also there is a camera at that light, and one person thought to note the exact time it happened, in case the camera does continuously record.

    I hope they find the driver. They deserve to pay for all damages and a huge fine.

    Our friend commented that his bike was likely worth more than the minivan that hit him, which is almost certainly true, given it was an older model van and his bike is a high end Pinarello. He also noted that none of us stopped his bike computer, which was good for a laugh.

    The ride leader's husband was able to come and pick up her, the victim, and another rider that wasn't comfortable continuing after the crash (we were only about halfway through the planned route). The rest of us pedaled on, albeit a bit more subdued for a while.

    10
  • Bicycle with roof

    I don't know why roofed bikes and bike-caravans have appealed to me so much for years. They are expensive and take up a lot of space at home. I probably won't buy one. And yet I'm always looking to see what's new in this area.

    They would be handy in spring and autumn. So here's my list which velomobiles are available with a roof:

    • Quadvelo https://www.quadvelo.com/
    • Podbike https://www.podbike.com
    • BAYK https://bayk.ag/newsticker/
    • Onomotion https://onomotion.com/blog/
    • Citkar https://www.mubea-umobility.com/insights/blog
    • Hopper https://hopper-mobility.com/

    And which may be ready for series production in 2025:

    • ELF https://organictransit.com/ (Study according to "Das MÖ")
    • Pedilio https://www.pedilio.de/
    • iris https://www.grantsinclair.com/product-page/iris-etrike-electric-vehicle
    • Twike https://twike.com/
    • Veemo SE https://veemo.ca

    In my opinion, it would be enough for a cargo-bike manufacturer to offer an optional roof like the one built by "Ekki Mobil". (picture in title) A cargo-bike with a box at the front would be ideal. It would also be much cheaper than any of the velomobiles listed above. What do you think about it?

    23
  • www.theguardian.com 100,000 Chinese students join 50km night-time bike ride in search of good soup dumplings

    Authorities impose restrictions on bike hire after huge group blocks a highway between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng in China, as night biking trend takes off

    100,000 Chinese students join 50km night-time bike ride in search of good soup dumplings
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  • Converted electric bike involved in fatal Coventry fire - BBC News

    www.bbc.co.uk Converted electric bike involved in fatal Coventry fire

    A pedal bike was converted into an electric bike and stored in the hallway, the fire service said.

    Converted electric bike involved in fatal Coventry fire

    cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/19204414

    > Just the other day in regards to the bike made with vape batteries people were saying that homemade electric bikes were dangerous due to the expertise required when dealing with batteries. Electric bikes are fantastic, but your lives are even better.

    0
  • Guy makes “dodgy e-bike” from 130 used vapes to make point about e-waste - Ars Technica

    arstechnica.com Guy makes “dodgy e-bike” from 130 used vapes to make point about e-waste

    It’s not a project for most people, but watching someone ride up to 20 miles, and up to 30 mph, on tossed-out vape batteries is transfixing.

    Guy makes “dodgy e-bike” from 130 used vapes to make point about e-waste
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  • Japan: Jail for cyclists who text and ride under new laws - BBC News

    www.bbc.co.uk Japan: Jail for cyclists who text and ride under new laws

    Riding under the influence is also now punishable with prison time.

    Japan: Jail for cyclists who text and ride under new laws
    12
  • Those of you who switched from driving to exclusively cycling: how much have you saved in gas, insurance and repairs?

    I'm slowly but surely transitioning from driving to cycling to the point I'm going to have to change jobs to stop driving all together. While this surely has many health and environmental benefits, I was wondering about the financial benefits. Those of you who have already made the transition, how much have you save by not driving?

    22
  • Trying to convert my bike into an ebike. What do I need?

    I'm trying to convert both my wife and I's bikes into ebikes so we can ride them more often and drive our cars less. I've never done somethings like this. For the very little I've done so far, there are three types of kits: front hub motor, rear hub motor and mid drive motor. Which of these is best for inner city commuting? Which one is cheap and easy to install?

    10
  • The Doughnut Club: Shimano's RapidRise | Tech Tuesday #242

    Interesting design. I wish I could try it.

    1
  • www.ifixit.com Bike Manufacturers Are Making Bikes Less Repairable

    Just like cars, tractors, computers, and seemingly every other product category, bikes—and especially e-bikes—are going all black box on us.

    Bike Manufacturers Are Making Bikes Less Repairable

    Ifixit take on current bike/e-bike manufacturers.

    45
  • Maintaining a waxed chain is WAAAAY easier than maintaining a wet lubed chain

    I wanted to share my experience with waxing my bike chains.

    I was resistant to waxing my chains because it seems that a lot of people felt it was "too much work".

    But having to constantly clean black shit off my chains after every ride, then spend time degreasing and re-lubing, I figured I'd try waxing when I got my gravel bike.

    Now, thousands of KM later and having converted all three bikes to waxed, there's no way I'd go back. The time saved could be measured in hours per month.

    First, the biggest complaint is chain prep. Yeah, regardless if you're waxing or not, you'll need to prep a new chain by removing the factory grease. With waxed, you do this once, and no more worrying about degreasing ever again. Make like easy and get Silca's chain stripper, and it's a 10 minute, one-step process.

    Ongoing chain maintenance couldn't be easier. After every ride, give the chain a quick wipe (or not). My chain stays clean, even after a 200 km ride.

    And if you ride in wet or dirty conditions? Guess what, you're in for a LOT of work if you lube your chain. With waxed, keep a second (or third) chain ready to go, and you just swap it out (10 seconds of effort). Take the dirty chain, give it a wipe if it's only been wet, or pour boiled water onto it if you want to "reset" the chain to bare metal. Then drop it into the waxing pot for a re-wax. You don't have to stand at the pot, so there's no real time commitment here. I've spent more time completely dirtying large microfiber cloths trying to get my chain "clean" when lubed (hint: it's never clean if you use a wet lube, not without solvents and an ultrasonic cleaner).

    For actual immersion wax, I do it every 1000 km (sooner than you need to), and use a drip wax every 200 - 250 km to keep things fresh.

    Honestly, wax is easier, cleaner, and takes less time to maintain vs wet lube.

    The only downsides? The initial cost to get started. But this is offset by not having to replace chains or other components prematurely. You actually save money in the long-term when using waxed chains.

    Some might argue that "you can't run waxed chains in muddy or constantly rainy conditions". Well, at the same time, your wet lube isn't really helping matters in those situations, either. Waxed is still better, and you can swap chains much faster than you can clean the grinding paste from a wet lubed chain.

    Who would I not recommend waxed chains to? Someone who rarely uses their bike. Drip lube will be "good enough" in those cases. But anyone else would benefit from waxing their chain.

    76
  • bikepacking.com Bikepacking on the Buffalo Bicycle

    In part two of his World Bicycle Relief series, Evan Christenson rides a Buffalo Bicycle and contemplates development's role in Africa...

    Bikepacking on the Buffalo Bicycle

    Nice read about a trip on the buffalo bicycle (which was posted about here some time ago), with an interesting view on the "world bicycle relief".

    6
  • Is it worth upgrading my cheap Chinese bike?

    Hi, I hope this is the right place to ask. I decided to start commuting by bike as it's only about 15 minutes each way. So I got my first bike and learned how to ride. It's a cheap Chinese MTB from my country's version of amazon. This was a few months ago now. Since then I've been riding almost everyday and taking longer trips along the river trail near my home.

    So I'm thinking about getting a lower end Shimano groupset. But I'm wondering what I'll get out of upgrading. Will there be a noticeable difference in performance? Smoother shifting? More speed in top gear?

    Thanks for any insight you can share :) any essential gear recommendations would be great too!

    26
  • www.imperial.ac.uk Cycle helmet safety ranked by new Imperial research | Imperial News | Imperial College London

    Cyclists choosing a new helmet can see how much protection different helmets offer, thanks to new safety rankings from Imperial College London.

    Cycle helmet safety ranked by new Imperial research | Imperial News | Imperial College London
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